Grades 3-5

Learning Safari

The Learning Safari is a wildlife adventure program for children in grades 1-8. This program uses guided questioning that empowers children to construct knowledge, make discoveries, and connect their museum experience to the natural world. The Learning Safari is aligned with Nevada State Standards and addresses these themes for the following elementary grades: 1st & 2nd - Habitats, 3rd - 8th - Adaptations.

3rd - 5th Grade

Theme

An Animal's Fight for Survival - Explore extraordinary ecosystems and learn how living things adapt for survival.

Galleries visited may include

International Wildlife, Wild Nevada, Prehistoric Life & Marine Life

(15 minutes per gallery for an approximate total of 1 hour)

Nevada 3-5 Science Standards

Scientific Inquiry

N.5.A. Understand that science involves asking and answering questions and comparing the answers to what scientists know about the world.

Life Science - Heredity

L.5.A.1. Know that some physical characteristics and behaviors are inherited in animals and plants.

L.5.A.5. Know that some animal behaviors are learned.

Life Science - Structure of Life

L.5.B Understand that living things have specialized structures that perform a variety of life functions.

L.5.B.1. Know plants and animals have structures that enable them to grow, reproduce, and survive.

Life Science - Organisms and Their Environment

L.5.C. Understand that there is a variety of ecosystems on Earth and organisms interact within their ecosystems.

L.5.C.2 Know organisms interact with each other and with the non-living parts of their ecosystem.

L.5.C.3. Know changes to an environment can be beneficial or detrimental to different organisms.

L.5.C.5 Know plants and animals have adaptations allowing them to survive in specific ecosystems.

Life Science - Diversity of Life

L.5.D. Understand that living things can be classified according to physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats.

L.5.D.1 Know animals and plants can be classified according to their observable characteristics.

L.5.D.2. Know fossils are evidence of past life.

Galleries visited for Learning Safari may include...

Prehistoric Life Approach the Tyrannosaurus rex at your own risk! Triceratops, Ankylosaur and a ferocious raptor give a further glimpse into the past. Learn how fossils are created. Explore theories on the first animals to inhabit land, different dinosaur characteristics and extinction. See ancient marine life and other animals including the ichthyosaur, a gigantic marine reptile that swam in the waters of Nevada during the time of the dinosaurs.

International Wildlife Feel a real bear's fur! Get an up close look at the amazing variety of physical adaptations mammals use for survival around the world. Antelope, big cats, wild dogs, deer and sheep are just some of the animals you'll see.

Wild Nevada Hear the call of a coyote! Experience the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert. Use four of your senses to learn about the large variety of minerals, plants and animals, including the desert tortoise and burrowing owls that are found in this area. Find out more about Nevada's state symbols and the valley's first inhabitants.

Marine Life Get splashed by our live sharks and stingrays that occupy a 3,000-gallon tank! Stand in the jaws of a megalodon shark. See colorful and fascinating creatures from the deep with unique adaptations such as blind cave fish and a frog fish. Find these and many other animals making the ocean their home.

Traveling Exhibits Every year the Museum hosts a traveling exhibit usually June through September. Traveling exhibits usually take the place of the International Wildlife Gallery. Don't miss your chance. Contact the Education Department to find out the current schedule of new and exciting exhibits visiting the Museum.

Science Sleuths - 4th and 5th Grade

Science Sleuths is a life and earth science program designed to encourage observational and deductive reasoning skills and self-discovery by integrating inquiry-based, investigative, and hands-on learning with peer interaction. This program is composed of a 45 minute lab activity with a 45 minute gallery tour of the museum. The program is aligned with Nevada State Science Standards for grades 4-6.

(15 minutes per gallery & 45 minutes in the Classroom for an approximate total of 1 1/2 hours)

Nevada 3 - 5 Science Standards

Scientific Inquiry

N.5.A. Understand that science involves asking and answering questions and comparing the answers to what scientists know about the world.

N.5.A.1 Know scientific progress is made by conducting careful investigations, recording data, and communicating the results in an accurate method.

N.8.A.3 Know how to draw conclusions from scientific evidence.

Science, Technology, & Society

N.5.B.3 Know the benefits of working with a team and sharing findings.

Structure of Life

L.5.B Understand that living things have specialized structures that perform a variety of life functions.

L.5.B.1 Know plants and animals have structures that enable them to grow, reproduce, and survive

Diversity of Life

L.5.D. Understand that living things can be classified according to physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats

L.5.D.1 Know animals and plants can be classified according to their observable characteristics

L.5.D.2 Know fossils are evidence of past life

Galleries that may be visited for Science Sleuths

Bandana Survivor...

Prehistoric Life Approach the Tyrannosaurus rex at your own risk! Triceratops, Ankylosaur and a ferocious raptor give a further glimpse into the past. Learn how fossils are created. Explore theories on the first animals to inhabit land, different dinosaur characteristics and extinction. See ancient marine life and other animals including the ichthyosaur, a gigantic marine reptile that swam in the waters of Nevada during the time of the dinosaurs.

Wild Nevada Hear the call of a coyote! Experience the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert. Use four of your senses to learn about the large variety of minerals, plants and animals, including the desert tortoise and burrowing owls that are found in this area. Find out more about Nevada's state symbols and the valley's first inhabitants.

Marine Life Get splashed by our live sharks and stingrays that occupy a 3,000-gallon tank! Stand in the jaws of a megalodon shark. See colorful and fascinating creatures from the deep with unique adaptations such as blind cave fish and a frog fish. Find these and many other animals making the ocean their home.

Science Sleuths - 5th and 6th Grade

Science Sleuths is a life and earth science program designed to encourage observational and deductive reasoning skills and self-discovery by integrating inquiry-based, investigative, and hands-on learning with peer interaction. This program is composed of a 45 minute lab activity with a 45 minute gallery tour of the museum. The program is aligned with Nevada State Science Standards for grades 4-6.

(15 minutes per gallery & 45 minutes in the Classroom for an approximate total of 1 1/2 hours)

Nevada 3 - 5 Science Standards

Scientific Inquiry

N.5.A. Understand that science involves asking and answering questions and comparing the answers to what scientists know about the world.

N.8.A.3 Know how to draw conclusions from scientific evidence.

Science, Technology, & Society

N.5.B.3 Know the benefits of working with a team and sharing findings.

Organisms and their Environment

L.5.C.3 Know changes to an environment can be beneficial or detrimental to different organisms

L.5.C.5 Know plants and animals have adaptations allowing them to survive in specific ecosystems

Diversity of Life

L.5.D.2 Know fossils are evidence of past life

L.8.D. Understand that life forms change over time, contributing to the variety of organisms found on the Earth

L.8.D.1 Know species can be identified and classified based upon their characteristics.

L.8.D.2 Know fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed throughout geologic time

Earth's Composition and Structure

E.5.C. Understand that features on the Earth's surface are constantly changed by a combination of slow and rapid processes.

E.5.C.3 Know landforms may result from slow processes and fast processes.

Galleries that may be visited for Science Sleuths

Fossil Stories...

Prehistoric Life Approach the Tyrannosaurus rex at your own risk! Triceratops, Ankylosaur and a ferocious raptor give a further glimpse into the past. Learn how fossils are created. Explore theories on the first animals to inhabit land, different dinosaur characteristics and extinction. See ancient marine life and other animals including the ichthyosaur, a gigantic marine reptile that swam in the waters of Nevada during the time of the dinosaurs.

Wild Nevada Hear the call of a coyote! Experience the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert. Use four of your senses to learn about the large variety of minerals, plants and animals, including the desert tortoise and burrowing owls that are found in this area. Find out more about Nevada's state symbols and the valley's first inhabitants.

Marine Life Get splashed by our live sharks and stingrays that occupy a 3,000-gallon tank! Stand in the jaws of a megalodon shark. See colorful and fascinating creatures from the deep with unique adaptations such as blind cave fish and a frog fish. Find these and many other animals making the ocean their home.